Oh look, it's broadly a place to talk about special occasions, party tips and to swap present ideas but let's be perfectly honest, this forum is here because I want to get excited about CHRIIIIIISTMAS from about June onwards.

With all of FC's dog business I just remembered a wee episode with MIL over christmas.Trying to have a conversation with her while she let her dog loudly and enthusiastically lick between all of her toes for about 10 minutes. It was really gross. She just carried on talking as if nothing was happening, I actually had to look away while talking to her and wpork hard not to screw up my face. Eeeew.

Most asked question by stupid family members/random people: "does he sleep through the night?" Funnily enough, no, he's 10 weeks old, moron. And I don't expect him too, he's a frickin baby, so don't look at me like I just told you he has a forked tongue and a tail.

Irritated also by dh's aunt today, too, who looked extremely perturbed when M showed her that rather than "lots of lovely sweeties!" In his snack box, he had nuts and apricots. And he was more than happy with them, so go do one you silly old cow.

Skip, you reminded me about a friend's Aunt at a birthday party we went to in the summer. It was a two year old's birthday party and the cake was a sticky, spongey, sugary, gooey mess. Lovely, but not for my little boy thanks very much! While the cake was being cut I took Dylan to stand at the side of the hall so he was distracted a bit from what was going on. My friend knew that I didn't want Dylan to have any and had actually provided a bowl of dried fruit for him to have instead of the sweets and cake that were there, so she just left us to it. Her Aunt, on the other hand, came over with a bowl containing a big slice of said cake, waved it under Dylan's nose and asked him whether he would like some. I don't think he even really realised she was talking to him but I swiftly interjected and said he wouldn't be having any. She did a proper cat's bum face and said, "Oooooooo-kaaaaaaaay. Poor thing, he doesn't get any cake." I mean, really? He's not exactly throwing himself at you and begging for cake, is he? He obviously doesn't care! Some people are just weird, I think

Mummy to Monkey Face since 01/07/09, Small since 30/07/11, and The Bean since 13/06/2015♥ ♥

wacky12 wrote:BM, how does Bruno lose out?? He has thoughtless, selfish GP's who don't want to see him, or they would have made an effort to pick a venue that you could go to with him.

He loves to see family & gets so excited. He'll be sad at not seeing them for months on end. I think he writes them off quite quickly as he only ever asks to go see my parents or his cousin but it's a shame they don't seem to want to make much effort but then they always were presents / money not time people.

wacky12 wrote:BM, how does Bruno lose out?? He has thoughtless, selfish GP's who don't want to see him, or they would have made an effort to pick a venue that you could go to with him.

He loves to see family & gets so excited. He'll be sad at not seeing them for months on end. I think he writes them off quite quickly as he only ever asks to go see my parents or his cousin but it's a shame they don't seem to want to make much effort but then they always were presents / money not time people.

He's not old enough to explain to, but if he's used to "presents not time" from them, it may not seem abnormal to him when he doesn't see them regularly. It's just the way it is, and he's learned not to ask to see them because the answer is so often 'no', or because he knows it upsets you to say no.

It's quite interesting that the things kids are used to as 'normal' aren't always. When I was a kid, I thought it was normal that you got to call your Dad by his first name if you wanted to, then I found out that he was my Dad, but not my older sister's Dad, and that was why they didn't call him Dad. I remember a kid in my Gr. 3 who's Dad was in prison and who thought it weird when he was around (he got out halfway through the year) and had a really hard time adjusting to this 'guy' telling him what to do. He was used to it being his Mum and him.